Crusher-feeder apparatus

ABSTRACT

A crusher-feeder apparatus having a bed for supporting scrap metal or other material and one or more coacting jaws for crushing the scrap metal or material. Preferably, each jaw is disposed at an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the bed and is adapted to undergo ovoidal or substantially elliptical movement for feeding scrap metal or other material rearwardly of the apparatus during simultaneous crushing of the scrap metal or material, hydraulic cylinders being provided for imparting such movement to the jaw. A single jaw may coact with a supporting bed, a pair of jaws may coact with each other or a single jaw apparatus may be used conjointly with a dual jaw apparatus.

United States Patent [45] Patented Feb.23, 1971 [54] CRUSHER-FEEDERAPPARATUS 4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] 11.8. C1 100/233, 100/139, 100/1 44, 100/244, 100/269, 100/295 [51]Int. Cl B30b 7/00, B301) 15/06 [50] Field of Search 100/95,

2,707,081 4/1955 Schmidtmann..... (l00/264UX) 2,949,078 8/1960 Reed100/233X 3,036,517 5/1962 Malarsky..... 100/233 3,077,827 2/1963 Bunkeet al.. 100/233X 3,110,245 11/1963 Kuehlman 100/139 3,273,493 9/1966Smiltneek 100/233 Primary Examiner-Billy J. Wilhite Attorney- Schley &Schley ABSTRACT: A crusher-feeder apparatus having a bed for supportingscrap metal or other material and one or more coacting jaws for crushingthe scrap metal or material. Preferably, each jaw is disposed at anacute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the bed and is adaptedto undergo ovoidal or substantially elliptical movement for feedingscrap metal or other material rearwardly of the apparatus duringsimultaneous crushing of the scrap metal or material, hydrauliccylinders being provided for imparting such movement to the jaw. Asingle jaw may coact with a supporting bed, a pair of jaws may coactwith each other or a single jaw apparatus may be used conjointly with adual jaw apparatus.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,195,479 8/1916 Kolp100/139 1,564,629 12/1925 Ruth (100/137UX) 2,083,720 6/1937 Larivierel0O/264X 1 1s 73 10s 1 1 q .l

III. I 1 I Q 1 1| 1 "1H1! 4 6 PATENTHJ FEB23|97| SHEET 1 BF 3 F es I WWINVENTOR Fred E. Mosley BY F|G.8

ATTORNEYS CRUSIIER-FEEDER APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Fieldof the Invention Compacting or crushing apparatus adapted to feedcompressed scrap material rearwardly thereof.

2. Description ofthe Prior Art I-Ieretofore, the jaws of crushers havebeen pivotally mounted for swinging movement, while the jaws of feedtype crushers have been crank operated so as to require additional meansfor ensuring ovoidal or substantially elliptical movement of said jaws.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to novel crusherapparatuses of the feeder type for compacting or compressing entireautomobile bodies and frames as well as other scrap material so as toobviate the necessity of precutting the same. Each crusher apparatus hasat least one jaw for coacting with a supporting bed or table upon whichthe scrap material is placed for compaction or compression. Each jaw isadapted to undergo ovoidal or substantially elliptical movement forsimultaneously crushing and feeding the material rearwardly of theapparatus, hydraulic cylinders being provided to impart such movement tosaid jaw. If desired, the crusher apparatus may have a single jawmovable in a vertical or horizontal plane or a pair of coacting jawsmovable in substantially contraelliptical paths in a common horizontalor vertical plane, the jaws travelling rearwardly during inward movementthereof.

Preferably each jaw of the crusher apparatus extends at an acute angleto the longitudinal axis of the bed with the rear end of the jawdisposed laterally inward of its front end. Either type of crusherapparatus may be used along or in conjunction with a shear to which thecompacted scrap material is fed by the ovoidal movement of the jaw orjaws of the crusher apparatus. Also, an apparatus having a single,vertically movable jaw may be employed in tandem with an apparatushaving a pair of horizontally movable jaws so as to positively compactthe material in both directions. If desired, the bed of either crusherapparatus, particularly the single jaw type, may be slidably mounted forlongitudinal movement with the jaw.

Constructions designed to carry out the invention will be describedhereinafter, together with other features thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevational viewshowing vertical and horizontal crusher-feeder apparatuses, constructedin accordance with the invention, mounted in coacting tandemrelationship ahead ofa shear,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, front end elevational view of the horizontalcrusher-feeder apparatus and a portion of the shear,

FIG. 3 is a horizontal, cross-sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 ofFIG. 2, showing the inward and rearward movement of the uprightjawsofthe horizontal apparatus in broken lines,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, side elevational view ofthe horizontal apparatusand a portion of the shear,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, top plan view of the vertical crusherfeederapparatus and a portion ofthe horizontal assembly,

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal, sectional view, taken on the line 6-6 of FIG.5, showing the downward and rearward movement of the overlying jaw ofthevertical apparatus in broken lines,

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, front end elevational view of the verticalapparatus and a portion of the horizontal apparatus, and

FIG. 8 is a top plan view on a reduced scale of the horizontalcrusher-feeder apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the drawings, the numeral 1designates a shear of the hydraulic type having a transverse, verticallymovable blade 2 (FIG. 3) at its front end. Collinear horizontal andvertical crusher-feeder apparatuses 3 and 4, embodying the principles ofthe invention, may be mounted in tandem ahead of the shear 1 with thehorizontal crusher-feeder apparatus 3 being positioned intermediatelythereof or adjacent said shear. As will be apparent, the crusher-feederapparatuses are adapted to coact for crushing and feeding scrapmaterial. such as paper, automobile bodies and frames, to the shear. Itis noted, however, that either apparatus, particularly the horizontalapparatus, is capable of independent use and may or may not be used witha shear which may be of any suitable type.

As best shown in FIGS. 2-4, the horizontal crusher-feeder apparatus 3includes an open, rectangular frame 5, preferably, formed of channelsand having corner and longitudinal side posts or upright end and lateralmembers 6 and 7 (FIGS. 2 and 4) connected at their lower ends by opposedpairs of longitudinal and transverse, horizontal beams or crossmembers 8and 9. One of the longitudinal bottom beams 8 is secured to the innersurfaces of each group or set of the corner and side posts 6 and 7 andthe inner surfaces of said beams 8 have theends of the transverse bottombeams 9 attached thereto in alignment with said posts.

Somewhat similar pairs of longitudinal and transverse, horizontal beamsor crossmembers 10 and 11 are spaced above the marginal beams 8 and 9for connecting and reinforcing the intermediate portions of the cornerand side posts at the margins of the frame 5, while the medial portionsof the marginal transverse beams 11 are connected and reinforced by alongitudinal, horizontal, center beam or crossmember 12 (FIG. 3) whichis parallel and similar to the marginal longitudinal beams 10. The frontintermediate portion of the center beam 12 as well as the frontintermediate portions of the longitudinal marginal beams 10 are bracedby a pair of short,

transverse beams or crossmembers l3 aligned with the front side posts 7.

A similar short, longitudinal beam or crossmember 14 extends betweeneach short, transverse beam 13 and the rear marginal beam 11 inadjacent, parallel relation to each marginal beam 10. The medial portionof each short, longitudinal beam 14 and the rear intermediate portion ofthe center beam are connected and reinforced by short, transverse beamsor crossmembers 15 in alignment with the rear side posts, while similarshorter beams or crossmembers 16 extend between the beams 10 and 14collinearly with the beams 15. As shown by the numeral 17, an uprightsupporting member or short post extends between each end of the centerbeam 12 and the underlying medial portion of each marginal bottom beam9. Similar supporting members or posts 18 connect the medial portions ofthe longitudinal beams 14 and the underlying portions of theintermediate, transverse bottom beams 9.

A hexagonal bed or table 19, in the form of relatively thick,trapezoidallike baseplate, overlies and is supported by the beams 10-l6and has its wide portion coextensive with the front portion of the frame5, whereby the, front transverse margins 20 of the bed or baseplate 19is aligned with the external margin of the front transverse beam 11 andthe parallel end margins 21 of the wide portion of said bed or plate arealigned with the external margins of the longitudinal beams 10.Rearwardly of the parallel end margins 21, the lateral margins 22 of thebed 19 converge toward a relatively short, rear transverse marginalportion 23 which overlies the external margin of the rear transversebeam 11. As best shown in FIG. 3, the marginal portion 23 is ofelongate, rectangular shape and projects rearwardly beyond the rearmarginal beam 11 for abutting engagement with an extension 24 of the bed(not shown) ofthe shear 1.

Transverse marginal beams or crossmembers 25, similar to the marginalbeams 9 and 11, extend between and connect the upper ends of the cornerposts 6 and have a plurality, preferably three, of equally-spacedlongitudinal beams 26 extending between the end and medial portionsthereof (FIG. 8) in overlying coplanar relation to the beams 12 and 14(FIG. 2). The intermediate portions of the longitudinal beams 26 arereinforced by two sets of collinear, transverse, short beams 27 and 28which are aligned with the upper ends of the side posts 7 so as to be inoverlying coplanar relation to the beams 13 and collinear beams 15 and16. A hexagonal, trapezoidallike top plate 29, substantially identicalto and aligned with the bed or bottom plate 19, is secured to the beams2528 in underlying relationship (FIG. 8). The plate 29 lacks therectangular rearward projection 23 of the bed 19 since it isunnecessary.

A pair of upright jaws or rams 30 is pivotally mounted between theplates 19 and 29 for longitudinal, contraelliptical movement in ahorizontal plane. The jaws 30 converge rearwardly of the frame and areadapted to travel inwardly and rearwardly toward each other forimparting concurrent movement to, as well as for simultaneouslycrushing, scrap metal or other material placed between said jaws. Eachjaw may include an upright, flat, rectangular member or backplate 31 ofrelatively thick metal and of greater horizontal length than height. Forproviding a coextensive row of rearwardlydirected serrations ortoothlike projections 32, a plurality of rectangular faceplates or flatelements 33, of relatively thick metal, is secured to the inner surfaceof each backplate 31 in overlapping relationship with the rear verticalmargin of each faceplate overlying the front vertical margin of theadjacent faceplate. A coextensive parallel reinforcing member or bar 34is secured to the outer surface of each backplate in spaced contiguityto each longitudinal margin thereof for connecting each jaw 30 to anovoidal movement imparting mechanism.

Preferably, this mechanism includes a trio of double-acting hydrauliccylinders 35, 45 and 55 having pivotal connecting elements or connectors36, 46 and 56, respectively, extending axially from their outer ends andprovided at their respective inner ends with upright gudgeon or trunnionpins 37, 47 and 57. Coaxially-opposed bearings 38, 48 and 58 are mountedabove the longitudinal beams and 14 and below the beams 28, 26 and (FIG.2) to permit horizontal swiveling or swinging ofthe cylinders 35, 45 and55 relative to the frame 5. The bearings 38 are disposed adjacent thefront side posts 7, the bearings 48 are in proximity to the short,transverse beams 13 and the bearings 58 are at the junctures of themarginal beams 10 and 11 as well as the ends of the transverse marginalbeams 25, whereby the cylinders 35 and 55 extend forwardly at acuteangles and the cylinders 45 are positioned at acute rearward angles tothe retracted jaws 30. Although the connectors 36 and 46 are in the formof apertured ears or lugs, each connection 56 is elongated or in theform of a flat bar whereby the cylinder 55 is spaced an appreciabledistance from its trunnion pin 57.

Piston rods 39, 49 and 59 project from the inner ends of the respectivecylinders and have pivotal connecting elements or connectors 40, 50 and60 at their respective outer ends for rotatable mounting on uprightwrist pins 41 and 51. As shown in FIG. 4, the pins 51 are common to theconnectors 50 as well as the connectors 60, which are in the form ofclevises, and have their ends journaled in the rear ends of thelongitudinal reinforcing bars 34 of the jaws, while the ends of the pins41 are journaled in said bars in spaced relation to the front endsthereof. Although not illustrated, the cylinders are provided with theusual hydraulic connections for reciprocating their respective pistonrods and oscillating said cylinders between the full and broken linespositions of FIG. 3. Due to this arrangement, the jaws are moved incontraelliptical paths for crushing and feeding to the shear 1 scrapmetal or other material placed on thebed 19.

As most clearly shown in FIGS. 5-7, the vertical crusherfeeder apparatus4 includes an open, rectangular frame 44, formed of channels, which issimilar to the frame 5 of the assembly 3 and which has a plurality oflateral, upright supporting members or corner or end and side posts61-64. For closing the lateral sides of the frame 44, an uprightrelative thick plate 65 overlies and is secured to the inner surfaces ofeach lateral group or set of the posts 61-64. A longitudinal,horizontal, bottom beam 66, similar to the beams 8, is secured to theinner face of each sideplate 65 and is connected by a plurality ofhorizontal transverse, bottom beams 67, similar to the beams 9 andaligned with the lower ends of said posts, to

the opposed identical beam that connects the other group or set ofposts. Above and aligned with the beams 66 and 67, similar longitudinaland transverse, horizontal, intermediate beams 68 and 69 are disposedbetween the sideplates for supporting a rectangular bed or table 70 thatis coplanar and identical to the bed 19 except for its shape. As shownby the numerals 76 and 77, the rear margins of the sideplates 65 and bed70 may project beyond the rear corner or end posts for engagement withthe frame of the horizontal crusher-feeder assembly.

The height of the front corner or end posts 61 is greater than the rearside posts 63 and less than the other posts, while the front side posts62 are of greater height than the rear corner or end posts 64. Aplurality of horizontal, transverse, top beams 71, 72 and 74, similar tothe beams 25, extends between and connects the upper ends of each of thepairs 144 159 posts 61, 62 and 64. As best shown in FIG. 6, the upperportions of the posts 62 and 64 of each lateral group or set areconnected by a horizontal, longitudinal, top beam or crossmember 73which overlies and is secured to the upper end of the post 63 betweensaid posts. A horizontal, transverse, top beam or cross member 75,similar and parallel to the beams 71, 72 and 74, overlies and connectsthe front end portions of the longitudinal top beams 73 adjacent saidbeam 72.

The vertical crusher-feeder apparatus 4 is provided with a horizontal,jaw or ram that may be similar to the jaws 30 and have a similarbackplate 81, a similar row of serrations or toothlike projections 82,similar overlapping faceplates 83 and similar parallel reinforcing bars84. As best shown in FIG. 5, the backplate 81 of the jaw 80 issubstantially square and has its lateral margins adjacent the uprightsideplates 65. The jaw is inclined downwardly and rearwardly of theframe 44 and is adapted to travel downwardly and rearwardly forimparting concurrent movement to scrap metal placed upon the bed 70during crushing thereof.

For imparting longitudinal ovoidal movement in a vertical plane, a trioof double-acting hydraulic cylinders 85, 95 and 105 are provided andhave pivotal connecting elements or connectors 86, 96 and 106 extendingaxially from their respective outer or upper ends. The connectors 86 and96 are in the form of apertured ears or lugs so as to be similar to theconnecting lugs 36 and 46, while the connector 106 is similar to theconnectors 56 and is elongated or in the form of a flat bar. Asindicated at 87, 97 and 107 in FIG. 6, the connectors are pivotallyattached to the undersides of the top beams 72, 75 and 74 in the samemanner as the connectors 36, 46 and 56 so as to suspend the cylinders85, 95 and 105 for swiveling or swinging movement medially of saidbeams.

Piston rods 88, 98 and 108, similar to the rods 39, 49 and 59, projectfrom the inner or lower ends of the respective cylinders and have means89, 99 and 109, similar to the connecting elements or connectors 40, 50and 60 and the wrist pins 41 and 51, at their respective outer or lowerends for pivotal attachment to the jaw 80. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6,the pivotal attachment means 89 has connection between and with thereinforcing bars 84 in spaced relation to the front ends thereof and theattachment means 99 and 109 has common connection between and with therear ends of said bars. Due to this arrangement, the cylinders and 105extend forwardly and the cylinder extends rearwardly at acute angles tothe retracted jaw. The operation of the jaw 80 is identical to that ofeither one of the jaws 30 and hydraulic connections (not shown) areprovided for actuating the cylinders to reciprocate this piston rods 88,98 and 108 and oscillate said cylinders between the full and broken linepositions of FIG. 6.

Due to the hydraulic cylinders forming the sole connection of each ofthe jaws 30 and 80 to the frame, it is readily apparent that each jawfollows the path of least resistance and that its angular relationshipvaries in accordance with the resistance encountered. For example, theremay be less resistance to inward or downward movement of the outer endportion of the jaw whereby said jaw portion moves inwardly or downwardlyrelative to the inner end portion of said jaw. ln

the event that the resistance is equal, the angular relationship of eachjaw may remain constant.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory thereof andvarious changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in thedetails of the illustrated construction may be made, within the scope ofthe appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

lclaim:

1. A crusher-feeder apparatus for compacting scrap material including:

a frame having a bed for receiving material to be compacted;

jaw means mounted on the frame for movement relative to the bed betweenits front and rear margins in an ovoidal path having its major dimensionextending longitudinally of said bed whereby said jaw means travelsinwardly rearward and outwardly forward of said frame;

a plurality of independent extensible means pivotally mounted on saidframe for swinging movement and having pivotal connection with the jawmeans for imparting ovoidal movement thereto whereby said jaw meanssimultaneously compacts and feeds the scrap material toward the rearmargin of said bed;

a pair of the independent extensible means being disposed laterally ofsaid jaw means and having pivotal connection with spaced portionsthereof whereby transverse movement is imparted to said jaw means uponactuation of the pair of extensible means; and

another of said independent extensible means being adapted to impartlongitudinal movement to said jaw means upon actuation thereof.

2. A crusher-feeder as defined in claim 1 wherein, the jaw means extendsat an acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the bed of theframe with its rear'end portion disposed laterally inward of its frontportion.

3. A crusher-feeder as defined in claim 1 wherein, the plurality ofindependent extensible means includes pressure fluid actuated cylinders.

4. A crusher-feeder as defined in claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein, the jawmeans includes a pair of coacting jaw members for simultaneouslycompacting and feeding scrap material toward the rear margin of the bedof the frame.

1. A crusher-feeder apparatus for compacting scrap material including: aframe having a bed for receiving material to be compacted; jaw meansmounted on the frame for movement relative to the bed between its frontand rear margins in an ovoidal path having its major dimension extendinglongitudinally of said bed whereby said jaw means travels inwardlyrearward and outwardly forward of said frame; a plurality of independentextensible means pivotally mounted on said frame for swinging movementand having pivotal connection with the jaw means for imparting ovoidalmovement thereto whereby said jaw means simultaneously compacts andfeeds the scrap material toward the rear margin of said bed; a pair ofthe independent extensible means being disposed laterally of said jawmeans and having pivotal connection with spaced portions thereof wherebytransverse movement is imparted to said jaw means upon actuation of thepair of extensible means; and another of said independent extensiblemeans being adapted to impart longitudinal movement to said jaw meansupon actuation thereof.
 2. A crusher-feeder as defined in claim 1wherein, the jaw means extends at an acute angle relative to thelongitudinal axis of the bed of the frame with its rear end portiondisposed laterally inward of its front portion.
 3. A crusher-feeder asdefined in claim 1 wherein, the plurality of independent extensiblemeans includes pressure fluid actuated cylinders.
 4. A crusher-feeder asdefined in claims 1, 2 oR 3 wherein, the jaw means includes a pair ofcoacting jaw members for simultaneously compacting and feeding scrapmaterial toward the rear margin of the bed of the frame.